Pine Valley WCSL 2025-2026 Heritage Surveys
Project ID: 7658
Status: Current
Fiscal Year: 2026
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Izaak McHenry
PM Agency: U.S. Forest Service
PM Office: Cedar City Ranger District
Lead: Dixie National Forest
WRI Region: Southern
Description:
Class 3 heritage surveys for the following areas. Listed in priority: 1. Lower Pinto Fence (19.8 ac) 2. Magotsu Fence (5.9 ac), and 3. Mountain Meadows East (6,245 ac)
Location:
Project areas are all on the Pine Valley Ranger District and contained within the Pine Valley Wildfire Crisis Strategic Landscape (WCSL).
Project Need
Need For Project:
Class 3 Heritage surveys are required prior to implement terrestrial activities within these project areas. Nepa is anticipated to be signed in April/May 2025. This project implements the required class 3 surveys.
Objectives:
Obtain class III Heritage surveys and reports to inform future terrestrial vegetation implementation activities to reduce risks to communities, infrastructure corridors and natural resources.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Heritage Surveys are required for vegetation manipulating activities. Clearances have generally been a bottleneck in getting project implemented. This project will get the overall WCSL 1 to 2 years head in heritage clearances allowing project implementation to be smoother, planned further in advance and allow implementation to occur at the desired time of year to meet objectives.
Relation To Management Plan:
Nepa for this project is currently in process. The Pine Valley Wildfire Risk Reduction Project decision that will authorize the future activities is anticipated to be signed in April/May of 2025. This Decision will tie to the Dixie Land Management Plan, the National Cohesive fire strategy and The WCSL strategies. These surveys will provide the groundwork for tying to the Pine Valley and Utah State mule deer plans, the Pine Valley Pronghorn Plan, and the Utah Statewide Elk management plan.
Fire / Fuels:
These surveys will have a direct impact on future fire and fuels reduction activities to be implemented once the decision is signed.
Water Quality/Quantity:
These surveys will not have an impact to water quality/quantity.
Compliance:
These surveys are part of the compliance process.
Methods:
100 percent pedestrian surveys will be completed on the 3 project areas.
Monitoring:
Other than contract monitoring during the contract process and completion, no monitoring is needed.
Partners:
UTDWR and UTFFSL
Future Management:
The Dixie National Forest is proposing to carry out large, landscape-level vegetation treatments as part of the ongoing efforts to confront the wildfire crisis, protect communities, and improve resilience on the Pine Valley Ranger District (Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A Strategy for Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America's Forests) with in the WCSL. These six projects are anticipated to be the initial focus areas once the decision is sign and activities developed.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
The decision will consider sustainable uses of natural resources. These surveys help identify resources to consider.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$482,843.13 $0.00 $482,843.13 $0.00 $482,843.13
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Archaeological Clearance Lower Pinto Fence (19.8 ac) Using 23GN1104070014 $1,526.91 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Archaeological Clearance Magotsu Fence (5.9 ac) using 23GN1104070014 $451.22 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Archaeological Clearance Mountain Meadows East (6,254 ac) using 23GN1104070014 $480,865.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$1,049,228.07 $0.00 $1,049,228.07 $0.00 $1,049,228.07
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
USFS National Priority Landscape (NPL) - WCS A179 E256W7658H $566,384.94 $0.00 $0.00 2025
USFS National Priority Landscape (NPL) - WCS Heritage survey work for 3 projects under GNA11-040700-014 $482,843.13 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Improper Grazing – Livestock (current) Low
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity High
Mule Deer R1
Threat Impact
Invasive Plant Species – Non-native High
Habitats
Habitat
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Improper Grazing – Livestock (current) High
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Inappropriate Fire Frequency and Intensity Medium
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Invasive Plant Species – Non-native Medium
Mountain Sagebrush
Threat Impact
Problematic Plant Species – Native Upland Very High
Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
ID Feature Category Action Treatement/Type
14963 Affected Area
14964 Affected Area
Project Map
Project Map